Automated roller clutch assembly

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically assembling compressed springs and rollers into an overrunning roller clutch assembly comprises a pair of intermittently rotated plates pivoted on spaced parallel axes. One plate has a plurality of loading chambers with reciprocating slides which receives the rollers, combines them with springs, compresses the springs and delivers sets of compressed springs and rollers to a transfer hub carried by the second intermittently rotated plate. Upon one complete rotation of the plates, the transfer hub is loaded with a full complement of rollers and springs. The complement of springs and compressed roller sets are then transferred to a clutch race to provide the overrunning roller clutch assembly.

United States Patent 1 Meyer et al.

[ 51 Jan. 9, 1973 54] AUTOMATED ROLLER CLUTCH ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors:Howard M. Meyer, Ypsilanti; Mayo M. Reichardt, Milford, both of Mich.

[731 Assignee: General Motors Detroit, Mich.

221 Filed: July26, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 166,100

Corporation,

[56] References Cited .UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1941 Ortegren et al...29/201 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney]. L. Carpenter et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically assembling compressedsprings and rollers into an overrunning roller clutch assembly comprisesa pair of intermittently rotated plates pivoted on spaced parallel axes.One plate has a plurality of loading chambers with reciprocating slideswhich receives the rollers, combines them with springs, compresses thesprings and delivers sets of compressed springs and rollers to atransfer hub carried by the second intermittently rotated plate. Uponone complete rotation of the plates, the transfer hub is loaded with afull complement of rollers and springs. The complement of springs andcompressed roller sets are then transferred to a clutch race to providethe overrunning roller clutch assembly.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH 9M5 3.708,849

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H a H 021/01 Z l! $29. 5 1770542 ZZZ [Panza/"d2 ATTORNEY AUTOMATEDROLLER CLUTCH ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to an assemblyapparatus, and more specifically, to an apparatus for assembling adevice having a number of circumferentially spaced compressible memberswhich are assembled in their compressed state.

More particularly, this invention results from an effort to provide anapparatus for automatically assembling an overrunning roller clutch ofthe type which utilizes a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollerswith individual tickler springs which constantly lightly load rollerstoward an engaged position.

, It is now the general practice in industry to either assemble suchoverrunning roller clutches manually, or in the alternative to usecomplicated assembly apparatus which does not have the speed, durabilityand low maintenance required of production equipment.

Broadly, the object of this invention is to provide a simple, speedy andefficient apparatus for automatically assembling a device having aplurality of circumferentially spaced compressible members which areassembled to the device in their compressed state.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus forsimultaneously and automatically assembling a plurality of rollers andcompressed springs into a clutch race while the springs are in theircompressed state.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus inwhich the rollers and compressed springs are loaded into the transferhub in a very short period of time, and in which a complete complementof rollers and compressed springs are simultaneously transferred to aclutch race to provide a roller clutch assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus ofsimple design and having a minimum of moving parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus inwhich a loader mechanism uses an intermittent rotary motion to receivesprings and compress them.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic assemblyapparatus using a simple intermittent rotary motion for the speedycollection of a complement of rollers and compressed springs which aretransferred to a clutch race to provide an overrunning roller clutchassembly.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of thefollowing specification relating to the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an assembly apparatus.

for assembling an overrunning roller clutch embodying the principles ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a portion of the assembly apparatus shown in FIG. 1 withvarious parts of the apparatus in a different operative position.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing thefront view of the loader mechanism. The spring and roller loader shownin FIG. 4 is partially broken away and the transfer hub has been omittedto show various details of the mechanism.

FIG. 4a is a view of a portion of FIG. 4 with the loader mechanism inphantom to show the relationship of the dual track to the loadermechanism.

FIG. 5 is a view substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and shows avertical section through the loader mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a view substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 toillustrate the detail of the loader mechanism in the area where rollersare fed into the mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 4to illustrate the detail of the loader mechanism in the areas wheresprings are fed into the mechanism and where rollers and compressedsprings are transferred into a transfer hub.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view partially sectioned of the transfer hub.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, there isshown an apparatus for assembling rollers and compressible accordiontype springs into a roller clutch. The apparatus includes a pair ofvibratory hoppers 12 which are indicated in phantom lines as thestructural details of vibratory hoppers are well known and need not bedescribed. Suffice it to say that one hopper delivers accordion typesprings 14 to chute l6 inclined at about 5 while the other hopperdelivers rollers 18 to delivery tube 20 also inclined at about 5 andlocated below the chute 16. The chute 16 and tube 20 are verticallyaligned and supported by the same structure to comprise a dual feedtrack 21 for delivering springs and rollers individually to the loadermechanism indicated generally at 22. The loader mechanism 22 is thecentral feature of the assembly apparatus and will be described indetail later. At this point, it is sufficient to describe the functionof the loader mechanism 22 which is to receive the springs 14 androllers 18 individually from the dual track 21, combine them in pairs,compress the spring of each pair, and deliver pairs of rollers andcompressed springs, one pair at a time, to a transfer hub 24 until it iscompletely loaded with a full complement .of rollers and springs. Inperforming the above function, the loader mechanism 22 is intermittentlyrotated by an electric motor 26 which drives a driver 28 through a chain30 and clutchbrake assembly 32. The clutch-brake assembly 32 iscontrolled by a sensing device (not shown) which interrupts power to andbrakes the'loader mechanism 22 should either springs or rollers fail toreach their designated areas in the loader mechanism 22. The

sensing device, as well as other electrical controls, have i beenomitted since they may take many forms and suitable controls can beprovided by a machine designer skilled in the art.

The transfer hub 24 which is a cooperative part of the loader mechanism22 is secured to an arm 34 which is pivotally mounted on the framework36 of the assembly apparatus. When the transfer hub is loaded with acomplement of rollers and springs corresponding in number and spacing tothose in the roller clutch being assembled, the arm 34 is pivoteddownwardly from the vertical position shown in FIG. 1 to a horizontalposition shown in FIG. 2 where it overlies a clutch outer race 38carried by a slide 40. The slide 40 moves a series of races 38 inahorizontal direction, and thus includes a number of individual holders41 with central pilot tubes 42 for bringing empty races into theapparatus and carrying away completed clutch assemblies. In the positionshown in FIG. 2, the race 38 is held against the holder 41 by thetransfer hub 24 in alignment with a ram head 44. The ram head 44 has acentral pilot pin 46 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced probes48. Upon actuation and descent of the ram 44 down the slide 50, thepilot pin 46 first enters the pilot tube 42 for centering the probes 48with respect to the transfer hub 24. As the ram 44 further descends, theprobes 48 enter the transfer hub 24 pushing the springs and rollers fromthe transfer hub into the race 38. FIG. 2 shows the ram head near thebottom of its descent with the springs and rollers being transferred tothe race 38 by the probes 48.

Briefly summarizing, the operation of the apparatus is as follows. Looserollers and springs are supplied separately to the hoppers 12 from whichthey are individually fed down the dual track 21 to the intermittentlyrotated loader mechanism 22. The loader mechanism 22 combines thesprings and rollers, compresses the springs and delivers the rollerscombined with compressed springs to the transfer hub 24. When a completeset of springs and compressed rollers are collected in the transfer hub24, it is pivoted downwardly to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2at which time an outer clutch race 38 has been located below thetransfer hub 24 by slide 40. The ram head 44 is then actuated and theprobes 48 descend pushing the complete set of rollers and compressedsprings from the transfer hub 24 to the outer clutch race 38 providing acomplete assembly of outer race rollers and compressed springs. The ramhead 44 is raised and the transfer hub 24 is pivoted back to thevertical portion shown in FIG. 1 for reloading with another complementof rollers and springs. While the transfer hub 24 is being reloaded, thecompleted clutch assembly is transferred out of the position shown inFIG. 2 by the slide 40 and an unloaded race is transferred into thisposition. See FIG. 3.

THE LOADER MECHANISM The loader mechanism 22 which is a central featureof the assembly apparatus is best understood in relation to FIGS. 4 and5. Briefly, the loader mechanism comprises offset geneva plates drivenby a single driver. Loading chambers with reciprocating slides areprovided in one plate to receive rollers and springs, combine them,compress the springs, and deliver the compressed springs and rollers toa transfer hub carried by the second geneva plate. The transfer hubcollects a full complement of springs and rollers for subsequenttransfer to a clutch race.

More specifically, the loader mechanism 22 comprises a housing 60 havinga bi-lobed recess 64 closed by a cover 62 suitably secured to thehousing 60. A first geneva plate 66 is journaled in the larger lobe ofthe recess 64 for rotation about an axis 80. The outer margin of thegeneva plate 66 is provided with drive slots 68 interposed betweenlocating recesses 70. A plurality of generally radial elongated loadingchambers 72 comprising an inner flat walled portion and an outercylindrical portion are provided in the geneva plate 66. Disposed ineach of the flat wall portions is a slide 74 carrying a follower 76which projects into a cam track 78 recessed into the cover 62. The camtrack 78 is centered on axis 79 and is thus eccentric with respect tothe axis of rotation 80 of the geneva plate 66 so that as the genevaplate 66 rotates, the slides 74 reciprocate in the loading chambers 72.

The driver 28 includes a central hub 82 journaled in a hole 84 in thelower portion of the cover 62. Immediately behind the hub 82 andprojecting into the recess 64 is a first locator enlargement 86integrally incorporated into the driver 28. A first drive pin 88 ismounted on the hub 82 and cooperates with the drive slots 68 on thegeneva plate 66 to rotate it intermittently. As the driver 28 rotates,the drive pin 88 enters a drive slot 68 as shown in FIG. 4 and rotatesthe geneva plate 66 approximately 36 until the drive pin 88 exits thedrive slot after some 180 of rotation of the driver 28. For the next 180of driver rotation, the geneva plate dwells and is stabilized in itsdwell position by the locator enlargement 86 cooperating with one of therecesses 70. The geneva plate then is driven with intermittent rotarymotions separated by dwell periods in response to continuous rotation ofthe driver 28. During successive dwell periods of the geneva plate 66,each of the loading chambers 72 is progressively indexed through aplurality of circumferentially spaced stations where the geneva plate 66is positively located by the locator enlargement 86. Stations I, II, VIIare indicated in FIG. 4.

As the geneva plate is intermittently rotated, the slides 74 reciprocatein the loading chambers 72, and it is to be noted that the slide 74 isat its most radially inward position at station II and in its mostradially outward position at station VII. The reason for this featurewill be more fully explained hereafter.

The cover 62 includes a keyhole 90 extending through it which alignswith the cylindrical portion and a part of the flat walled portion of aloading chamber 72 when that particular loading chamber is positioned atstation VII. A pilot mount 92secured to the cover 62 also includes akeyhole 94 aligned with the keyhole 90 at station VII. Joumaled on thepilot mount 92 is a second geneva plate 96 which like the first genevaplate has drive grooves 98 alternated with recesses 100. The drivegrooves 98 cooperate with a second drive pin 104 on the driver 28 toimpart intermittent rotary motion to the second geneva plate 96, and therecesses 100 cooperate with a second locator enlargement 102 integratedwith the driver 28 to precisely locate the second geneva plate 96 duringits dwell periods. It is important to note that both geneva plates aredriven from and precisely located during the dwell periods by a singledriver 28, thus automatically providing for synchronization between themotions of the two geneva plates. 1

The second geneva plate 96 provides for the collecting and storing afull complement of compressed springs and rollers which are received insets from the first geneva plate 66 which functions as a loader for thecollector. In performing the collecting and storing function, the secondgeneva plate 96 cooperates with the transfer hub 24 which has aplurality of circumferentially spaced keyholes 112 corresponding innumber and spacing to that of the roller clutch into which they are tobe assembled. In one of its operative positions (shown in FIGS. 1 and5), the transfer hub 24 is adjacent the face of the second geneva drive96. The transfer hub 24 is centered on and rotated with the secondgeneva plate 96 by the pilot drive pin 106 disposed in the pilot hole108 of the transfer hub 24. The intermittent rotation of the secondgeneva plate 96 and transfer hub 24 is about the pilot mount axis 114which is spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation 80 of thefirst geneva plate 62. The transfer hub 24 is so oriented on the secondgeneva plate 96 and the axes 80 and 1 14 so spaced that one of suchtransfer hub keyholes 112 aligns with the keyholes 90 and 94 and one ofthe loading chambers 72 during each dwell period of the geneva plates 66and 96. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the alignment which occurs in this particularapparatus at station VII.

As shown in FIG. 5, the assembly apparatus includes a fluid motor drivenpush rod 116, the stationary portion of which is mounted on framework ofthe assembly apparatus. The framework has been omitted for clarity ashas the controls for operating the push rod. The pertinence of the pushrod 116 lies in its function which is described hereafter.

Another relationship between the loader mechanism 22 and the otherassembly apparatus structure is shown in FIG. 4a. This figure shows thevertical alignment of the chute 16 and tube (of the dual track 21) andtheir disposition behind two adjacent loading chambers located atstations I and II respectively. More specifically, the tube 20 isaligned with the cylindrical portion of the loading chamber 72 atstation I for the loading of rollers therein to. The chute 16 is alignedwith the flat wall portion of the loading chamber 72 (immediatelyadjacent to the cylindrical portion) at station II where the slide 74 isat its most radially inward position and thus adapted to receive anon-compressed spring between the slide 74 and a roller disposed in thechamber.

FIG. 6 shows the relation of the tube 20 to the loader mechanism 22 fromanother view, and illustrates a roller 18 being loaded into the loadingchamber 72 from the tube 20 at station I.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship of the chute 16 to the loader mechanism 22from another view and illustrates a spring 14 being loaded into aloading chamber 72 at station II. At station II, the slide 74 is at itsmost radially inward position so that the non-compressed spring iseasily loaded into the flat walled portion of the loading chamberimmediately adjacent the cylindrical portion which holds a roller 18previously loaded into the chamber 72 at station I.

FIG. 7 also illustrates the loader and other assembly apparatusstructure at station VII which is located diametrically opposite stationII. The slide 74 in the chamber at station VII is in its most radiallyoutward position compressing the spring 14 against the roller 18 both ofwhich are aligned with the push rod 116, keyholes 90 and 94, and atransfer hub keyhole 112. At

station VII these elements (roller and compressed spring) are pushedinto a transfer hub keyhole by the push rod 1 16.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the transfer hub 24 showing itscircumferentially spaced array of keyholes 1 12 which extend axiallythrough it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION the rollers and springs to theloader mechanism 22. The motor 26 is activated continuously rotating thedriver 28 through the chain 30 and brake-clutch assembly 32. The firstgeneva drive plate 66, however, is only intermittently rotated withintermediate dwell periods during which it is stationary. During a dwellperiod, a roller is fed into the loading chamber 72 through an opening73 in'the housing 60 located at station 1. See FIGS. 4 and 6. After thedriver 28 rotates approximately 180 clockwise from the position shown inFIG. 4, the loading chamber 72 with the roller 18 in it will have beenmoved to station II. During the next dwell period, an unstressed spring14 is fed into the chamber 72 through the opening 75 by the chute 16.See FIGS. 4, 4a and 7. During the subsequent intermittent rotation ofthe geneva plate through stations III, IV, V and VI (not indicated), thespring 14 is progressively compressed by the slide 74 moving radiallyoutwardly in the chamber 72 through action of the follower 74- disposedin the eccentric cam track 76. When the chamber 72 reaches station VII,the spring 14 is in its most compressed state, and during the dwellperiod at this station VII, the push rod 116 is extended through thehousing opening 77 into the chamber 72 pushing the roller and compressedspring through the aligned keyholes and 94 and into one of the keyholes112 in the transfer hub 24. See FIG. 7. The push rod is then withdrawnand the first geneva plate 66 is further intermittently indexed untilthe emptied chamber 72 progresses through stations VIII, IX and X (notindicated) returns to station I to repeat the cycle. While the abovedescribed action considered only what was occurring in a single chamberas it progressed through the ten circumferentially spaced stations, itis to be understood that these actions are simultaneously occurring inall of the chambers as they are all progressively indexed through theten stations. In other words, during a single dwell period, a roller isbeing loaded into a chamber in station I, a spring is being loaded intoanother chamber 72 already containing a roller at station II, and aroller and a compressed spring are being pushed out of still anotherchamber at station VII. During the intermittent rotation, springs areprogressively compressed between stations II and VII. Once the genevaplate 66 has been rotated a compressed spring and roller is pushed intothe transfer hub 24 for every subsequent 36 of rotation of the genevaplate 66, which means that ten such combinations are delivered to thetransfer hub 24 for every complete revolution of the geneva drive plate66.

As the geneva drive plate 66 is rotated one. complete revolution, soalso is the transfer hub 24 rotated one complete revolution by thesecond geneva drive plate 96. The intermittent rotation of the transferhub 24 serially presents each of the keyholes 112 to the station VIIduring successive dwell periods of the second geneva plate 96. The dwellperiods ofthe second geneva plate 96 are synchronized with the dwellperiods of the first geneva drive plate 66 and their proper keyholes andloading chamber aligned by the single driver 28 with its two drive pinsand two locator enlargements.

After one complete revolution of the geneva drive plates 66 and 96, thetransfer hub is loaded with ten sets of rollers and compressed springs.The brakeclutch assembly 32 is then actuated disengaging the driver 28from the motor 26 and braking the geneva plates of the loader mechanism.See FIG. 1. The loaded transfer hub 24 is pivoted downwardly to thehorizontal position shown in FIG. 2 where the transfer hub 24 overliesan outer clutch race 38 having ten circumferentially spaced ramprecesses for receipt of the ten sets of rollers and compressed springsin the transfer hub. The ram head 44 is then actuated descending fromthe position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The probes48 carried by the ram head 44 enter the keyholes 112 in the transfer hub24 and simultaneously push all ten sets of compressed springs androllers into the outer clutch race 38 to provide a roller clutchassembly. The ram head is then raised to the position shown in FIGS. 1and 3, the empty transfer hub 24 is pivoted back to the verticalposition shown in FIG. 1, the completed clutch assembly is moved outfrom under the ram head 44 by the slide 40, and an empty clutch race 38is brought under the ram head. While the slide 40 is transferring theclutch races, the transfer hub 24 is being reloaded by the loadingmechanism 22.

With this apparatus, the cycle time for assembling a clutch having tenrollers and ten springs is approximately seconds so that about 240clutches can be assembled in 1 hour. The assembly rate can be furtherimproved by utilizing two confronting loader mechanisms 22 inconjunction with a single transfer slide timed so that one loadermechanism is being loaded while the other loader mechanism istransferring rollers and compressed springs to a clutch race. It is alsocontemplated that the springs and rollers can be loaded directly intothe clutch race thereby eliminating the transfer hub. Thus it can beseen that we have provided an automatic machine for loading compressedsprings and rollers into a clutch outer race to provide the rollerclutch assembly which is simple, speedy and efficient.

, We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for assembling a device which includes compressible memberswhich are assembled into the device in a compressed state comprising:

a loader'rotatably mounted on a first axis,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers in said loader,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

' means to reciprocate said slides in said chambers in response torotation of said loader,

a collector rotatably mounted adjacent said loader on a second axis,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced receiving cavities in saidcollector,

- said loader and said collector being so spaced with respect to eachother and their respectivechambers and cavities being so locatedradially therein respectively such that a cavity aligns with a chamberat one angular position of said chamber and said cavity respectively,and

drive means to intermittently rotate said loader and said receiver insynchronization such that one of said chambers aligns with one of saidcavities at said angular position during each dwell period between theintermittent rotation of said loader and said receiver.

2. Apparatus for assembling a device which includes compressible memberswhich are assembled into the device in a compressed state comprising:

a loader rotatably mounted on a first axis,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers in said loader, 1

means to intermittently rotate said loader so that each of said loadingchambers is indexed to a plurality of circumferentially spaced stations,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamber in response torotation of said loader,

a collector rotatably mounted adjacent said loader on a second axisparallel to said first axis,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced keyholes in said collector whichopen toward said loading chambers in a generally axial direction,

said keyholes being so located in said collector such that theyprogressively align with a progression of said loading chambers in saidloader at one of said stations, and

second drive means to intermittently rotate said collector insynchronization with said loader such that said keyholes aresequentially aligned with said loading chambers at said one stationduring subsequent swell periods between the synchronized intermittentrotation of said loader and said collector.

a first geneva plate rotatably mounted on a first axis,

a driver indexing said first geneva plate past a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced stations, said stations including a springreceiving station and a transfer station diametrically opposite saidspring receiving station,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers in said first genevaplate at locations corresponding to said stations,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamber in response tothe indexing of said first geneva plate, said slides-being reciprocatedfrom a radially inward position at said spring receiving station to aradially outward position at said transfer station,

a second geneva plate rotatably mounted on a second axis spaced from andparallel to said first axis, and i a collector having a plurality ofspaced keyholes detachably secured to said second geneva plate, and

said driver intermittently rotating said second geneva plate insynchronization with said first geneva plate such that a keyhole islocated at said transfer station during each dwell period of said genevaplates.

4. Automated apparatus for assembling a complement of rollers andcompressed springs into a roller clutch comprising:

a housing having a roller feed hole and a spring feed hole,

a first geneva plate rotatably mounted in said housing on a first axis,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers extending axiallythrough said loader,

drive means to intermittently rotate said first geneva plate about saidfirst axis so that each of said chambers dwell at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced stations, said roller and feedholes beinglocated at two of said stations,

a cover secured to said housing,

a transfer keyhole in said cover located at a third of said stations,

a circular cam track in said cover eccentric with respect to said firstaxis,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

a follower carried by each of said slides and disposed in said circularcam track,

a second geneva plate journaled on said cover for rotation about asecond axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis,

a transfer hub detachably secured to said second geneva plate, and

a plurality of circumferentially spaced keyholes in said transfer hubalignable with said transfer keyhole,

said driver intermittently rotating said second geneva plate receiver insynchronization with said first geneva plate such that a keyhole in saidtransfer hub and a chamber in said first geneva plate aligns with saidtransfer keyhole during each dwell period of said geneva plates.

5. Apparatus for automatically assembling a device including a pluralityof springs assembled in a compressed state comprising:

a first geneva plate rotatably mounted on a first generally horizontalaxis,

a driver indexing said first geneva plate through a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced stations, said stations including a springreceiving station and a transfer station diametrically opposite saidspring receiving station,

means to feed unstressed springs to said first geneva plate at saidspring receiving station,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers in said first genevaplate at locations corresponding to said stations,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamber in response tothe indexing of said first geneva plate, said slides being reciprocatedfrom a radially inward position at said spring receiving station to aradially outward position at said transfer station whereby saidunstressed spring which is received at said spring receiving station isprogressively compressed until it reaches said transfer station,

a second geneva plate rotatably mounted on a second axis spaced from andparallel to said first axis,

a transfer hub having a plurality of spaced keyholes journaled on apivotally mounted arm,

means to pivot said arm between a generally vertical position where saidtransfer hub is located adjacent said second geneva plate and a secondgenerally horizontal position.

means forming a drivingconnection between said transfer hub and saidsecond geneva plate when said transfer hub is in said generally verticalposix t said driver intermltently rotating said second geneva plate insynchronization with said first geneva plate such that a keyhole in saidtransfer hub is located at said transfer station during each dwellperiod of said geneva plates.

6. Automated apparatus for assembling a complement of rollers andcompressed springs into a roller clutch comprising:

a generally vertical housing having a roller feed hole and a spring feedhole substantially vertically aligned therein,

inclined track means for delivering rollers and springs to said holesrespectively,

a first geneva plate rotatably mounted in said housing on a generallyhorizontal axis,

a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers extending axiallythrough said loader,

drive means indexing said first geneva plate about said axis so thateach of said loading chambers dwell at a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced stations, said roller and feed holes being located at twoadjacent stations whereby rollers and springs are progressively fed intoeach of said loading chambers as they pass said two stations,

a cover secured to said housing, 7

a transfer keyhole in said cover located at a third stationdiametrically opposite said station at which said spring feed hole islocated,

a circular cam track in said cover,

a slide disposed in each of said chambers,

a follower carried by each of said slides and disposed in'said circularcam track, said circular cam track having a center offset toward saidthird station whereby springs disposed in said loading chambers areprogressively compressed as said loading chambers are indexed to saidthird station,

a second geneva plate journaled on said cover for rotation about asecond axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis,

a transfer hub movable between a first position where it is drivinglysecured to said second geneva plate and a second position,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced keyholes in said transfer hubalignable with said transfer keyhole,

said driver intermittently rotating said second geneva plate receiver insynchronization with said first geneva plate such that said keyholes insaid transfer hub are sequentially aligned with said loading chambers insaid first geneva plate at said third station during each dwell periodof said geneva plates,

push rod means to transfer compressed springs and rollers from saidloading chambers to said keyholes at said third station, and

means to move said transfer hub from said first position to said secondposition whereby a complement of compressed springs and rollers in aloaded transfer hub may be simultaneously transferred to a clutch race.

22 3 QERTi'i EEAEE @E'F @QEZiEiEQTiQN Patent No. 3,70%8 28 Datedfianuery 9, 1973 Inventorks) Howard i i, Meyer, Mayo M0 Reicherdt It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

if" Claim 2;, eolumn 8, line 30 fielete "swell" and substitue W diweil=0 Claim 3;, column 8, insert the following as the fioeginning of claim3:

my Apparatus for autometioeily assembling a device including a pluralityof springs assembled in a compressed state comprising: Y

Claim 3 line 55,, delete enk A Signed and sealed this 29th day of May1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer 1 Commissionerof Patents

1. Apparatus for assembling a device which includes compressible memberswhich are assembled into the device in a compressed state comprising: aloader rotatably mounted on a first axis, a plurality of radialelongated loading chambers in said loader, a slide disposed in each ofsaid chambers, means to reciprocate said slides in said chambers inresponse to rotation of said loader, a collector rotatably mountedadjacent said loader on a second axis, a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced receiving cavities in said collector, said loader and saidcollector being so spaced with respect to each other and theirrespective chambers and cavities being so located radially thereinrespectively such that a cavity aligns with a chamber at one angularposition of said chamber and said cavity respectively, and drive meansto intermittently rotate said loader and said receiver insynchronization such that one of said chambers aligns with one of saidcavities at said angular position during each dwell period between theintermittent rotation of said loader and said receiver.
 2. Apparatus forassembling a device which includes compressible members which areassembled into the device in a compressed state comprising: a loaderrotatably mounted on a first axis, a plurality of radial elongatedloading chambers in said loader, means to intermittently rotate saidloader so that each of said loading chambers is indexed to a pluralityof circumferentially spaced stations, a slide disposed in each of saidchambers, means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamber inresponse to rotation of said loader, a collector rotatably mountedadjacent said loader on a second axis parallel to said first axis, aplurality of circumferentially spaced keyholes in said collector whichopen toward said loading chambers in a generally axial direction, saidkeyholes being so located in said collector such that they progressivelyalign with a progression of said loading chambers in said loader at oneof said stations, and second drive means to intermittently rotate saidcollector in synchronization with said loader such that said keyholesare sequentially aligned with said loading chambers at said one stationduring subsequent swell periods between the synchronized intermittentrotation of said loader and said collector.
 3. a first geneva platerotatably mounted on a first axis, a driver indexing said first genevaplate past a plurality of circumferentially spaced stations, saidstations including a spring receiving station and a transfer stationdiametrically opposite said spring receiving station, a plurality ofradial elongated loading chambers in said first geneva plate atlocations corresponding to said stations, a slide disposed in each ofsaid chambers, means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamberin response to the indexing of said first geneva plate, said slidesbeing reciprocated from a radially inward position at said springreceiving station to a radially outward position at said transferstation, a second geneva plate rotatably mounted on a second axis spacedfrom and parallel to said first axis, and a collector having a pluralityof spaced keyholes detachably secured to said second geneva plate, andsaid driver intermittently rotating said second geneva plate insynchronization with said first geneva plate such that a keyhole islocated at said transfer station during each dwell period of said genevaplates.
 4. Automated apparatus for assembling a complement of rollersand compressed springs into a roller clutch comprising: a housing havinga roller feed hole and a spring feed hole, a first geneva platerotatably mounted in said housing on a first axis, a plurality of radialelongated loading chambers extending axially through said loader, drivemeans to intermittently rotate said first geneva plate about said firstaxis so that each of said chambers dwell at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced stations, said roller and feedholes beinglocated at two of said stations, a cover secured to said housing, atransfer keyhole in said cover located at a third of said stations, acircular cam tRack in said cover eccentric with respect to said firstaxis, a slide disposed in each of said chambers, a follower carried byeach of said slides and disposed in said circular cam track, a secondgeneva plate journaled on said cover for rotation about a second axisspaced from and parallel to said first axis, a transfer hub detachablysecured to said second geneva plate, and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced keyholes in said transfer hub alignable withsaid transfer keyhole, said driver intermittently rotating said secondgeneva plate receiver in synchronization with said first geneva platesuch that a keyhole in said transfer hub and a chamber in said firstgeneva plate aligns with said transfer keyhole during each dwell periodof said geneva plates.
 5. Apparatus for automatically assembling adevice including a plurality of springs assembled in a compressed statecomprising: a first geneva plate rotatably mounted on a first generallyhorizontal axis, a driver indexing said first geneva plate through aplurality of circumferentially spaced stations, said stations includinga spring receiving station and a transfer station diametrically oppositesaid spring receiving station, means to feed unstressed springs to saidfirst geneva plate at said spring receiving station, a plurality ofradial elongated loading chambers in said first geneva plate atlocations corresponding to said stations, a slide disposed in each ofsaid chambers, means to reciprocate each of said slides in its chamberin response to the indexing of said first geneva plate, said slidesbeing reciprocated from a radially inward position at said springreceiving station to a radially outward position at said transferstation whereby said unstressed spring which is received at said springreceiving station is progressively compressed until it reaches saidtransfer station, a second geneva plate rotatably mounted on a secondaxis spaced from and parallel to said first axis, a transfer hub havinga plurality of spaced keyholes journaled on a pivotally mounted arm,means to pivot said arm between a generally vertical position where saidtransfer hub is located adjacent said second geneva plate and a secondgenerally horizontal position, means forming a driving connectionbetween said transfer hub and said second geneva plate when saidtransfer hub is in said generally vertical position, and said driverintermitently rotating said second geneva plate in synchronization withsaid first geneva plate such that a keyhole in said transfer hub islocated at said transfer station during each dwell period of said genevaplates.
 6. Automated apparatus for assembling a complement of rollersand compressed springs into a roller clutch comprising: a generallyvertical housing having a roller feed hole and a spring feed holesubstantially vertically aligned therein, inclined track means fordelivering rollers and springs to said holes respectively, a firstgeneva plate rotatably mounted in said housing on a generally horizontalaxis, a plurality of radial elongated loading chambers extending axiallythrough said loader, drive means indexing said first geneva plate aboutsaid axis so that each of said loading chambers dwell at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced stations, said roller and feed holes beinglocated at two adjacent stations whereby rollers and springs areprogressively fed into each of said loading chambers as they pass saidtwo stations, a cover secured to said housing, a transfer keyhole insaid cover located at a third station diametrically opposite saidstation at which said spring feed hole is located, a circular cam trackin said cover, a slide disposed in each of said chambers, a followercarried by each of said slides and disposed in said circular cam track,said circular cam track having a center offset toward said third stationwhereby springs disposed in said loading chambers are progressivelycompressed as said loading chambers are indexed to said third station, asecond geneva plate journaled on said cover for rotation about a secondaxis spaced from and parallel to said first axis, a transfer hub movablebetween a first position where it is drivingly secured to said secondgeneva plate and a second position, a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced keyholes in said transfer hub alignable with said transferkeyhole, said driver intermittently rotating said second geneva platereceiver in synchronization with said first geneva plate such that saidkeyholes in said transfer hub are sequentially aligned with said loadingchambers in said first geneva plate at said third station during eachdwell period of said geneva plates, push rod means to transfercompressed springs and rollers from said loading chambers to saidkeyholes at said third station, and means to move said transfer hub fromsaid first position to said second position whereby a complement ofcompressed springs and rollers in a loaded transfer hub may besimultaneously transferred to a clutch race.